Compare towns
Dummerston vs Dorset vs Plainfield vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dummerston | Dorset | Plainfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,092Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Plainfield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.